I just read this after band practice...I keep my Distillate at the rehearsal space so I miss it during the week(hate dragging it and case on the bus)...WOW, I love that bass...seriously, everyone hug their Alembics! Tony

I'm completely sold on Alembic, and like you Terry I would have put them as my number one. However, since I haven't given the other basses much earspace to know what they are like I would be somewhat biasssed based on ignorance. Not that I don't think Alembic deserve the placing but I do find it interesting that Alembic still comes up at the top especially as I can't name any new high profile young guns, sporting alembics basses to bring in new young players so I guess the age profile of that forum must be quite mature and they grew up listening to people like the Dead, Jefferson, Clarkee and JJ etc.

I have a feeling that if the survey was done on the UK equivalent site, Basschat UK, the results would be radically different. From my exposure to it, there is a large contingent of P and J bass enthusiasts and those who want that sound from non fender basses so I suspect Alembic would not fare as highly.

Well deserved, especially given that before Alembic, there was no such thing as a high end bass! Off the top of my head I can't think of any other builder that fabricates all of their hardware (except tuners and stock knobs), pickups and electronics in-house, another distinguishing characteristic.

I would tend to agree with something Mica once said: After Alembic, few (Ritter comes to mind) build their own electronics to go with their instruments. After that, despite some REALLY interesting things other people have come up with, after the woodwork, it's the usual menu of EMG, Bartolini, etc., and they just rarely sound different.

Occasionally, something is different: The dark, heavy African wood Warwicks come to mind, where the wood choices couldn't do anything else but color the tone, but an extreme case with its own penalties of weight.

But I gotta admit, I do love Atlansias. It's as if Dr. Seuss went into the bass business ! And the Japanese can come up with very fresh approaches: The TUNE Bass Maniac will always be the Miata of basses, so very streamlined and tiny. And the WoodBasses were a very fresh take on a fretless (with Alembic electronics).

Over the last few years I've looked at acquiring a number of different "boutique" basses (but always end up with an Alembic). One of the reason's, besides guaranteed high quality, is that when I compare what I'd get with an Alembic versus, say a Ritter, on the used market, Alembic for some reason is typically more reasonably priced. Truthfully, I have no idea as the what new Ritter's go for new, but for the prices I've seen on those up on ebay and other forums, I could acquire, at the least, a used Alembic Series I or maybe even a series II for the same or a lower cost.

My guitar tech, who is an ex-machinist and has over 20 years experience working on stringed instruments recently proclaimed my Alembic Stanley Clarke Sig Deluxe to be "the finest bass I've ever seen".

I know this guy went over it in detail and painstakingly searched for any imperfection (he can't help it - he's just built like that) and would not make that statement if he found any flaw - no matter how minor.

There are very few instruments, if any, that could hold up to that type of scrutiny and leave that strong of an impression, but it's just "another day at the office" for the magicians at Alembic.

Bottom line: he just verified what I and several others here already know.

Another aspect of the Alembic experience comes when you start the custom ordering process. Unlike some "custom" builders I've worked with, there are very, very few limitations when it comes to Alembic. Additionally, Susan works closely with you to really get a feel for what you want and gives great advice on options. As she told me recently, "It may be your bass, but my name's on it." THAT'S pride, and that's what sets Alembic so far ahead of the other builders out there.